Northern Queensland runs on the languid time of the tropics. With a late morning touch-down in Cairns, you’ll settle into your private limousine at the airport, and take a moment to unwind before adventuring into the precipice where World Heritage-listed areas meet—the ancient Daintree Rainforest in the Wet Tropics, and the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef.
Climb into the canopy at Silky Oaks Lodge and melt into their Billabong Suite, your accommodation for the next several nights. Offering a spacious lounge and extensive deck with all the toys to immerse you into the tropical ambience of the Daintree, your suite includes a hammock, daybed and edgeless plunge pool overlooking the Mossman River. Freshen up with a soak in the open-air bathtub hidden away on your private deck for a premium rainforest bathing experience, before diving into adventure with your local private guides.
You’ll delve deep into the culture and history of the local Kuku Yalanji people with a guided walk through the rainforest with a local Aboriginal Elder. You’ll be shown modern day healing techniques embedded with the natural energy of the region, discover two worlds in one where the Rainforest meets the Reef, and enjoy a private wildlife tour including a koala cuddle, followed by a river drift snorkelling tour in the Mossman River. Be sure to keep an eye out for birdlife, crocodiles, and other reptiles lazing about in the sun!
No trip to Queensland would be complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Board your private charter boat after a Welcome to Country by a local Aboriginal group, relax on the deck, and sit down with your guides to enjoy local Aboriginal music and stories while floating along the pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Then, organised in secret by Kylie, jump off the boat for a personalised treasure hunt experience amongst the sand quays of the Reef. Throughout your adventures, you’ll be fuelled by food foraged, grown and prepared from the region with a range of seafood, nuts, chocolate, coffee and tropical fruits melded into a contemporary Australian blend, reflecting Asian influences with traditional Aboriginal flavours: sand crab and prawn, charcuterie, dukkah-crusted barramundi, Asian greens and other tropical bites. Be sure to try the seasonal exotic flavours of a Daintree ice-cream to cool you off.
Ancient, complex, and remarkable—the tropical north of Queensland offers some of the world’s most biological diversity in the world, hidden within the breathtaking primordial landscapes. Offering deep blends of history, nature, and culture alike, the Daintree is a magnificent spot to absorb some of Australia’s most unique experiences with hands-on activities.
Destination 2: Daintree Rainforest has accommodation for four nights at Silky Oaks Lodge in a Billabong Suite.